Exhaust gas measuring apparatus

ABSTRACT

An exhaust gas measuring apparatus includes an atmosphere introducing unit, an air purifier, a diluting unit, selecting means, a sampling unit, and measuring means. The atmosphere introducing unit takes in air in the atmosphere as diluting air. The air purifier takes in and purifies air in the atmosphere, thereby generating diluting air. The diluting unit dilutes a portion of exhaust gases of an engine with the diluting air. The selecting means causes either one of the atmosphere introducing unit and the air purifier to communicate with the diluting unit. The sampling unit collects diluted exhaust gases. The measuring means obtains the emission amount of collected exhaust gases.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an exhaust gas measuring apparatuswhich obtains the emission amount of exhaust gases emitted from anengine.

2. Description of the Related Art

In an automobile, the emission amount of exhaust gases emitted from theengine is measured and evaluated in an exhaust gas test mode includingacceleration and deceleration by using an exhaust gas measuringapparatus.

In the exhaust gas measuring apparatus, exhaust gases diluted with airin the atmosphere are collected by using a sampling unit, as disclosedin Jpn. UM Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 4-116620.

Most exhaust gas measuring apparatuses collect exhaust gases from theengine by using sampling units employing a method called CVS (ConstantVolume Sampler).

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, a sampling unit a has a passage"d" interposed with a venturi b and a filter c and open to theatmosphere, a blower e for taking in air in the atmosphere into thepassage d, and a passage h for introducing the exhaust gases from a testvehicle (automobile) g traveling on a chassis dynamometer f in apredetermined exhaust gas test mode into the passage d. The exhaustgases emitted from the engine are mixed in air flowing in the passage dat a predetermined flow rate with the suction force of the blower e.

The exhaust gases are collected at a portion between the passage h andthe venturi b through a sampling venturi i, a passage j, and a pump (notshown), and are stored in a bag (not shown) during the test mode.

At this time, air in the atmosphere is also collected in a bag (notshown) through another passage k and a pump (not shown).

The net exhaust gas concentration is obtained with an analyzer (notshown) by subtracting regulated materials (impurities), e.g., HC, CO,and NO_(X), contained in the collected air from the collected, dilutedexhaust gases.

The net exhaust gas concentration, the flow rate coefficient of theventuri b, and the amount of diluted exhaust gases in the standard stateobtained by measurement under the temperature and pressure of the inletport of the venturi b are subjected to calculation to measure theemission amount of exhaust gases emitted from the test vehicle g.

This allows measurement of the emission amount of exhaust gases at highprecision.

However, a demand has arisen for a further improvement in thisprecision.

This is because air pollution caused by automotive emission products isworsening each year, leading to gradual worldwide reinforcement ofexhaust gas regulations. In recent years, in some areas, strictregulations have been legislated to restrict emission of harmfulsubstances to almost zero. California State, U.S.A. legislated strictregulations which stipulate that the emission amount of harmfulsubstances from automobiles be set to almost zero from '97 model yearvehicles.

For this reason, the influence of the diluting air to the measurementsupplied to the sampling unit has become an issue.

More specifically, air in the atmosphere contains many impurities thatinterfere with measurement of the emission amount of exhaust gases.

When air in the atmosphere is directly supplied to a sampling unit asdiluting air, high measurement precision cannot be ensured because ofthe influence of impurities, e.g., HC, CO, and NO_(X), in theatmosphere. As a consequence, it is impossible to measure exhaust gaswith accuracy as high as required by the regulations.

As a countermeasure against this, it has been proposed to connect an airpurifier n to diluting air inlet port m of a sampling unit a, as shownin FIG. 6.

More specifically, the air purifier n is constituted by a cleaner p anda blower fan q, and removes the impurities, e.g., HC, CO, and NO_(X), inair taken in from the atmosphere with the blower fan q, with the cleanerp, thereby purifying the air.

When the purified air is supplied to the sampling unit a as a dilutingair in place of air in the atmosphere, the exhaust gas measuringapparatus has high exhaust gas measuring precision.

The air purifier n is an expensive and large apparatus. Further, itsrunning cost is high because expendables such as the filters used in thecleaner p are expensive.

The cleaner p need not be used in the case where the exhaust gasmeasuring can meet the test requirements or the requirements stipulatedby regulations or test apparatus, without measuring the exhaust gas at ahigh precision.

And, the exhaust gas measuring apparatuses are provided in units of aplurality of test benches, e.g., the first and second test benches, asshown in FIG. 7, so that many tests can be performed. An automobilemanufacturer usually has several to ten-odd sets of test benches.

If air purifiers n are to be provided in units of sampling units a, asdescribed above, a rather high cost is required for this purpose.

In addition, spaces for installing the air purifiers n must bemaintained in units of test benches.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One object of the present invention is to provide an exhaust gasmeasuring apparatus in which either purified air or the air in theatmosphere is used as purified diluting air in the CVS sampling unit, inaccordance with the measurement precision required, and which canmeasure exhaust gas with high accuracy at low cost.

Another object of the invention is to provide an exhaust gas measuringapparatus in which purified diluted air is supplied from a small numberof air purifiers to a greater number of sampling units, by using the airpurifiers effectively and efficiently.

According to the present invention, there is provided an exhaust gasmeasuring apparatus comprising:

an atmosphere introducing unit for taking in air in the atmosphere asdiluting air;

an air purifier for taking in and purifying air in the atmosphere,thereby generating diluting air;

a diluting unit for diluting a portion of exhaust gases of an enginewith the diluting air;

selecting means for causing either one of the atmosphere introducingunit and the air purifier to communicate with the diluting unit;

a sampling unit for collecting diluted exhaust gases; and

measuring means for obtaining an emission amount of collected exhaustgases.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth inthe description which follows, and in part will be obvious from thedescription, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objectsand advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means ofthe instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in theappended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of the specification, illustrate a presently preferred embodimentof the invention and, together with the general description given aboveand the detailed description of the preferred embodiment given below,serve to explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an exhaust gas measuring apparatusaccording to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the arrangement of the air purifier indetail;

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the structure around the samplingunit of the exhaust gas measuring apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a flow chart for explaining a control operation forappropriately supplying purified diluting air supplied from an airpurifier to a sampling unit in operation;

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a conventional exhaust gas measuringapparatus;

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining an exhaust gas measuring apparatus inwhich an air purifier is connected to its sampling unit to diluteexhaust gases, so that the measurement precision is improved; and

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a facility in which a plurality ofsampling units each having the air purifier are provided.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention will be described by way of an embodiment shown inFIGS. 1 to 4.

FIG. 1 shows the overall schematic arrangement of an exhaust gasmeasuring apparatus to which the present invention is applied, in whichreference numeral 1 denotes an air purifier installed in, e.g., themachine room of a building.

A main body 1a of the air purifier 1 has an air inlet port 2 open to theatmosphere and an air outlet port 3.

A blower fan 4 and a cleaner 5 are disposed in the main body 1a. Theblower fan 4 takes in air in the atmosphere from the air inlet port 2and supplies it to the air outlet port 3 with a variable air blowingperformance. The cleaner 5 removes impurities, e.g., HC, CO, and NO_(X),contained in the intake air.

The arrangement of the air purifier 1 will be described in detail withreference to FIG. 2. In FIG. 2, a pipe 51 connected to an inlet port 2is connected to a suction fan 4. Air in the atmosphere is drawn by thesuction fan 4. The downstream side of the suction fan 52 is connected toan electric heater 54 and a catalyst 55 through a U-shaped pipe 53. Theelectric heater 54 heats the atmosphere drawn by the suction fan 52 toabout 400° C.

The catalyst 55 is an oxidizing catalyst for generating H₂ O and CO₂ bycomplete combustion of HC and CO. Since the electric heater 54 alsoserves to activate the catalyst, it is placed on the upstream side ofthe catalyst 55.

The downstream side of the catalyst 55 is connected to a cooling unit 57through an L-shaped pipe 56. Air is cooled by the cooling unit 57.

The downstream side of the cooling unit 57 is connected to an activatedcarbon adsorption layer 59 through a pipe 58. NO_(X) is removed by theactivated carbon adsorption layer 59.

The air outlet port 3 is connected to a main duct 7 (corresponding tothe main passage) disposed on, e.g., the ceiling of the first floor ofthe building, through a connecting duct 6.

The main duct 7 is connected to sampling units 11, 11a, . . . providedin units of test benches (to be described later) installed on the floorof the first floor. Air purified by the air purifier 1 is sent to therespective sampling units 11, 11a, . . . through the main duct 7.

For example, one end portion of the main duct 7 is closed with adetachable blind cover 8 to allow extension of the main duct 7.

The air purifier 1 is provided with a controller 1b (comprising amicrocomputer and its peripheral circuits and corresponding to a flowrate controller) for supplying purified air at an appropriate flow ratein accordance with the number of sampling units 11, 11a, . . . inoperation.

More specifically, the controller 1b is connected to the blower fan 4.The controller 1b is also connected to a sensor 7a for detecting apressure P₁ in the main duct 7 and a sensor 7b for detecting anatmospheric pressure P₂.

The controller 1b has a function of controlling the rotation speed ofthe blower fan 4 in order to set a difference ΔP between the pressuresP₁ and P₂ at a substantially constant value, so that a necessary supplygas volume can always be ensured.

With this function, a necessary amount of diluting air is automaticallyadjusted in accordance with the number of sampling units 11, 11a, . . .in operation and supplied to the main duct 7.

A plurality of test benches, e.g., two sets of test benches A and B (thefirst and second test benches) are disposed on the floor surface of thefirst floor.

The first and second test benches A and B employ the same structure.

FIG. 3 shows the structure around one of the test benches, e.g., thetest bench A.

The structure around the test bench A will be described. Referencenumeral 9 denotes a chassis dynamometer for driving a test vehicle 10(corresponding to the automobile) while the vehicle body stands still.

The sampling unit 11 is installed near the chassis dynamometer 9.

The sampling unit 11 employs, e.g., a CVS (Constant Volume Sampler).

The sampling unit 11 will be described. A main body 12 of the samplingunit 11 has an inlet port 13 for taking in diluting air and an outletport 14 open to the atmosphere.

The inlet port 13 is connected to a branch duct 15 (corresponding to abranch passage) branching from the main duct 7 for each sampling unit.Air purified by the air purifier 1 can be taken in as the diluting airthrough the inlet port 13.

A passage 16 (corresponding to the first passage portion) is provided inthe main body 12 so that the inlet port 13 and the outlet port 14communicate with each other.

A mixing unit 18, and a cyclone 19 for removing dust are disposed in thepassage 16 from the upstream side in this order. A turbo blower 20(corresponding to a suction unit) for drawing air to the downstream sideis disposed on the downstream side of the passage 16. The turbo blower20 draws diluting air from the inlet port 13.

A connecting pipe 23 (corresponding to the second passage portion) whichis to be detachably connected to an exhaust pipe 21 (through whichexhaust gases from an engine 22 mounted on the test vehicle 10 areemitted into the atmosphere) extends from the mixing unit 18. Thus, theexhaust gases emitted from the engine 22 are diluted by mixing withdiluting air flowing through the passage 16.

A venturi unit 24 for setting an appropriate diluting rate is insertedat a passage portion between the turbo blower 20 and cyclone 19 on thedownstream side of the cyclone 19.

More specifically, the venturi unit 24 has a venturi setting portion 25arranged where the venturi unit 24 is set, and a plurality of types ofventuris attachable on and detachable from the venturi setting portion25. The plurality of types of venturis are, e.g., three types ofventuris, including a large venturi 26, a medium venturi 27, and a smallventuri 28 that are classified in accordance with the specific flow rateperformance.

The turbo blower 20 has such a suction force that sufficiently maintainsa critical flow regardless of which one of the venturis 26 to 28 isselected. When one of the venturis 26 to 28 is selected, a gas mixture(a mixture of the exhaust gases and the diluting air) flows through thepassage 16 at a predetermined flow rate determined by the selectedventuri.

In other words, the necessary supply amount of diluting air is adjustedby setting a venturi selected from the large, medium, and small venturis26 to 28 to the venturi setting portion 25.

Hence, an appropriate diluting rate is selected by properly using thethree types of venturis 26 to 28 in accordance with the exhaust gas testmode and the size (test conditions) of the engine 22.

A measuring system 40 for measuring the amount of diluted exhaust gasesis provided on the upstream side of the venturi setting portion 25 whichis maintained at a predetermined flow rate.

The measuring system 40 is constituted by, e.g., a sensor unit 41, anarithmetic unit 42, and a flow rate display unit 43. The sensor unit 41measures the temperature and pressure at the inlet port of the venturi.The arithmetic unit 42 calculates the amount of diluted exhaust gases inthe standard state based on the information on the temperature andpressure, the flow rate coefficient of the venturi, and the time. Theflow rate display unit 43 displays the calculation result.

Hence, a diluted exhaust gas amount necessary for obtaining the emissionamount of exhaust gases can be obtained.

Furthermore, a collecting unit 30 is provided on the upstream side ofthe venturi setting portion 25.

In the collecting unit 30, diluted exhaust gases (a gas mixture of theexhaust gases and diluting air) are collected from a sampling venturi 32disposed on the upstream side of the venturi setting portion 25 at apredetermined flow rate with the suction force of a suction pump 31disposed outside the passage, and is stored in a bag 33.

With this collecting structure, in the exhaust gas test mode, thediluted exhaust gases are stored in the bag 33, so that information onthe average concentration of the exhaust gas in the exhaust gases testmode can be obtained.

A collecting unit 36 for the diluting air is interposed on the upstreamside of the mixing unit 18. In the collecting unit 36, only the dilutingair is collected with a Suction pump 34 and stored in a bag 35 through apassage 38.

With this collecting unit 36, in the exhaust gas test mode, theregulated materials (impurities), e.g., HC, CO, and NO_(X), remaining inthe purified air (diluting air) are stored.

Gases in the bags 33 and 35 are analyzed by an analyzer 37 (constitutinga measuring means together with the measuring system 40), so that thenet exhaust gas concentration can be obtained.

More specifically, the analyzer 37 has a function of obtaining the netexhaust gas concentration by subtracting the regulated materials(impurities), e.g., HC, CO, and NO_(X), contained in the purified aircollected in the bag 35 from the diluted exhaust gases collected in thebag 33, and a function of obtaining the emission amount of exhaust gasesby calculation of the net exhaust gas concentration and the prescribeddiluted exhaust gas amount in the standard state.

Hence, the emission amount of exhaust gases emitted from the testvehicle 10 is obtained.

As shown in FIG. 1, a duct 44 (corresponding to a passage for taking inair in the atmosphere) extending to the machine room is connected to theoutlet port of the branch duct 15 to communicate with it.

The distal end portion of the duct 44 is connected to an atmosphereintroducing unit 45 installed on, e.g., the rooftop of the building andincorporating a filter.

The duct 44 and the branch duct 15 are respectively provided with valveunits, e.g., motor-driven first and second valves 46 and 47 (switchingvalve units; corresponding to valve units) for opening/closing the ducts44 and 15.

The purified air from the air purifier 1 or air in the atmosphere isselectively supplied to the sampling unit 11 as diluting air through thefirst and second valves 46 and 47, or purified air is supplied to thesampling unit 11 at a flow rate corresponding to the diluting rate.

More specifically, the first and second valves 46 and 47 are connectedto a controller 48 (comprising, e.g., a microcomputer and its peripheralequipment) provided to each sampling unit 11.

An operating unit 49 provided to each controller 48 has various types ofoperation button portions, e.g., a power button portion for turningon/off the sampling unit 11, a button portion for setting an exhaust gastest mode which uses air in the atmosphere as the diluting air, a buttonportion for setting an exhaust gas test mode which uses purified air asthe diluting air, and a venturi selection button portion (not shown) forinputting which venturi is used.

The controller 48 has the following functions:

The function of stopping the operation of the sampling unit 11 anddriving the first and second valves 46 and 47 to fully close them whenthe power button portion is turned off.

The function of driving the first and second valves 46 and 47 to fullyopen and fully close, respectively, when the button portion of anexhaust gas test mode which uses air in the atmosphere as the dilutingair is turned on.

The function of driving the first valve 46 to fully close and the secondvalve 47 to fully open, semi-open, or slightly open it in accordancewith which one of the large, medium, and small venturis 26 to 28 isselected by the venturi selection button portion when the button portionof an exhaust gas test mode which uses purified air as the diluting airis turned on.

The function of operating the sampling unit 11 in accordance with theexhaust gas test mode when the power button portion is turned on.

With these functions, only by operating the operating unit 49, purifiedair from the air purifier 1 or air in the atmosphere is used as thediluting air, or purified air at a predetermined flow rate correspondingto the selected one of the large, medium, and small venturis 26 to 28 istaken in from the air purifier 1.

The second test bench B also employs this structure. Necessary purifiedair can be supplied to a plurality of sampling units, e.g., two samplingunits 11 and 11a in this case, with one air purifier 1, which is anecessary minimum number.

Regarding information output upon operation of the operation buttons ofthe operating unit 49, a signal output from the operation unit (notshown) of the sampling unit 11 or from an automatic measuring apparatus(not shown), which is of the same type as that output from the operatingunit 49, may be directly connected to the controller 48.

The air purifier 1 can purify and blow a maximum diluting air amountnecessary for the plurality of sampling units.

Referring to FIG. 1, suffix "a" is added to the reference numeral ofeach component around the second test bench B, so that the first andsecond test benches A and B can be discriminated from each other.

The operation of the exhaust gas measuring apparatus having the abovearrangement will be described.

In this case, assume that the emission amount of exhaust gases of eachof the test vehicles 10 and 10a in the exhaust gas test mode is to bemeasured by using both of the first and second test benches A and B andusing purified air as the diluting air.

As a preparation for this, for example, in the first test bench A, theconnecting pipe 23 is connected to the exhaust pipe 21 of the testvehicle 10 placed on the chassis dynamometer 9. An appropriate venturi,e.g., the small venturi 28, is selected from the three venturis 26 to 28in accordance with the exhaust gas test mode and the size (testconditions) of the engine 22 of the test vehicle 10, and is set in theventuri unit 24, so that an appropriate diluting ratio (the ratio ofexhaust gas amount emitted from the test vehicle 10 to the amount ofdiluting air) is obtained. In this selection, a consideration is made sothat the water content in the exhaust gases will not be condensed andthe measuring precision will not become low (the exhaust gas measurementconcentration will not become excessively low).

When the small venturi 28 is set, the necessary supply amount ofdiluting air for the sampling unit 11 is determined.

Similarly, in the second test bench B, a connecting pipe 23a isconnected to an exhaust pipe 21a of a test vehicle 10a placed on achassis dynamometer 9a, and an appropriate venturi is selected fromthree venturis 26 to 28 and set in the venturi portion of the samplingunit 11a, so that an appropriate diluting ratio (the ratio of exhaustgas amount emitted from the test vehicle 10 to the amount of dilutingair) is obtained.

Subsequently, the operating units 49 and 49a provided in units of testbenches are operated.

This operation is done when the type of venturi selected with theventuri selection button is input, the button portion of the exhaust gastest mode which uses purified air as the diluting air is turned on, andthe power button portion is turned on.

In response to this operation, the purified air draft system is set, andthe air purifier 1 and the respective sampling units 11 and 11a areoperated.

FIG. 4 shows the control flow chart of this purified air draft system.

How to obtain the emission amount of exhaust gases will be described byusing this control flow chart. Upon reception of information input fromthe operating unit 49, the controller 48 of the sampling unit 11 checkswhether the test is to be performed in accordance with whether the powerbutton portion of the operating unit 49 is turned on, as shown in stepS1.

Since the power button portion of the operating unit 49 is ON, the flowadvances to step S2 in response to this ON signal.

In step S2, whether the test requires purified air is checked inaccordance with whether the button portion of the exhaust gas test modewhich uses purified air as the diluting air is turned on.

Since the button portion of the exhaust gas test mode which usespurified air as the diluting air is ON, it is determined from this ONsignal that highly precise exhaust gas measurement which uses purifiedair is to be performed, and the flow advances to step S3.

In steps S3 and S4, which venturi is used is checked.

Since an input indicating that the small venturi 28 is set to theventuri setting portion 25 has been made in the operating unit 49, thecontroller 48 enters step S5 via steps S3 and S4.

In step S5, the controller 48 drives the first valve 46 to a fullyclosed position and the second valve 47 to a slightly opened position sothat a passage for the purified air is ensured and a supply amount ofdiluting air corresponding to the specific flow rate of the smallventuri 28 is ensured.

In this manner, the purified air draft system of the first test bench Ais set.

The purified air draft system of the second test bench B is also set inthe same manner under the control of a controller 48a of the samplingunit 11a.

When the sampling unit (non-operating sampling unit) is not used, i.e.,is stopped, both the first and second valves 46 and 47 (46a and 47a) arefully closed by the OFF signal from the power button portion which isinput through the controller 48 (48a) (step S8).

By these control operations, a preparation for supplying only necessaryamounts of diluting air to the sampling units 11, 11a is done.

Thereafter, the air purifier 1 and the sampling units 11 and 11a areoperated.

Upon operation of the air purifier 1, air in the atmosphere is taken inby the blower fan 4, and any impurities contained in this air areremoved by the cleaner 5, thereby purifying the air. This purified airis supplied from the connecting duct 6 to the respective branch ducts 15and 15a through the main duct 7.

In the sampling unit 11, the turbo blower 20 is activated to draw air inthe passage 16 to be exhausted to the atmosphere.

Then, the flow velocity of the gas flowing through the small venturi 28is maintained at a critical flow, and the gas in the passage 16 flowswhile it maintains a predetermined flow rate determined by the smallventuri 28.

With the suction force generated at this time, the purified diluting airis taken in from the inlet port 13 and reaches the mixing unit 18.

At this time, on the chassis dynamometer 9 of the first test bench A,the test vehicle 10 is being driven in accordance with the exhaust gastest mode.

The exhaust gases emitted from the test vehicle 10 reach the mixing unit18 through the connecting pipe 23, and are diluted as they are mixedwith the diluting air flowing through the mixing unit 18.

When this diluted exhaust gases pass through the cyclone 19, dust in thediluted exhaust gases is removed.

The diluted exhaust gases pass through the small venturi 28 and areemitted to the atmosphere from the turbo blower 20.

The temperature and pressure of the diluted exhaust gases flowing at thepredetermined flow rate are detected by the sensor unit 41 at the inletside of the small venturi 28.

The arithmetic unit 42 performs a calculation based on the informationon temperature and pressure, the flow rate coefficient of the venturi,and the time, to obtain the amount of diluted exhaust gases in thestandard state. The flow rate display unit 43 displays the amount ofdiluted exhaust gases in this exhaust gas test mode.

Meanwhile, both the sampling suction pumps 31 and 34 are in operation.

With the suction force of the suction pump 31, the sampling venturi 32draws the diluting air maintained at a critical flow.

The diluted exhaust gases flowing in the passage 16 are collectedthrough the sampling venturi 32 and a collection pipe 32a, and arestored in the bag 33 at a predetermined flow rate in the exhaust gastest mode.

The diluting air before being mixed with the exhaust gases is collectedby the suction force of the suction pump 34, and is stored in the bag 35in the exhaust gas test mode in the same manner.

The analyzer 37 calculates the net exhaust gas concentration bysubtracting the regulated materials (impurities), e.g., HC, CO, andNO_(X), contained in the purified air collected in the bag 35 from thediluted exhaust gases collected in the bag 33.

The net exhaust gas concentration and the prescribed diluted exhaust gasamount in the standard state metered by the small venturi 28 aresubjected to calculation by using the analyzer 37, thereby obtaining theemission amount of exhaust gases emitted from the test vehicle 10traveling in the exhaust gas test mode.

This measurement is performed by the second test bench B as well in thesame manner, thereby obtaining the emission amount of exhaust gasesemitted from the test vehicle 10a.

While the sampling units 11 and 11a are operating in this manner, thecontroller 1b of the air purifier 1 controls the rotation speed of theblower fan 4 by detecting the pressure P₁ in the main duct 7 and theatmospheric pressure P₂ and monitoring the pressure difference Δ betweenthem, so that necessary diluting air is supplied.

When the two sampling units 11 and 11a operate, the blower fan 4 iscontrolled to increase its rotation speed so that a necessary amount ofdiluting air is always ensured.

With this control, the exhaust gas test can be performed well in whichone air purifier 1 is used and two sampling units 11 and 11a (testbenches A and B) are used simultaneously.

When one of the two test benches, e.g., the test bench B, is stopped,the sampling unit 11a of the test bench B is stopped, and the first andsecond valves 46a and 47a are fully closed. Simultaneously, thecontroller 1b of the air purifier 1 decreases the rotation speed of theblower fan 4 to suppress variations in pressure-difference ΔP occurringupon closing of the branch duct 15a, thereby ensuring the diluting airamount which is necessary by only the sampling unit 11.

Hence, even when one air purifier 1 and one sampling unit 11 (test benchA) are used, the exhaust gas test can be performed well.

When an exhaust gas test is performed which does not require highprecision, unlike in a case wherein purified air is used as the dilutingair, and air in the atmosphere is directly used as the diluting air, thebutton portions of the exhaust gas test mode using air in the atmosphereas the diluting air, which are located on the operating units 49 and 49aof the test benches that are to perform this test, may be turned on, andthe power button portion may be turned on.

Then, the first and second valves 46 and 47 of these test benches arerespectively opened and closed (step S9 of FIG. 4), so that the ducts 44are opened.

Upon this operation, the sampling units 11 and 11a take in air in theatmosphere as the diluting air from the atmosphere introducing unit 45.

In this manner, with the structure of supplying the purified air fromthe air purifier 1 to the sampling units 11 and 11a through the mainduct 7, purified diluting air can be appropriately supplied, byeffectively using a small number of air purifiers 1 (one in this case),to the sampling units 11 and 11a that are larger in number than the airpurifiers 1.

This means that even if a plurality of sampling units 11, 11a, . . . areemployed, the number of air purifiers can be a necessary minimum,leading to a rather low cost. Also, spaces necessary for installing theair purifiers 1 can be small, leading to down sizing of the exhaust gasmeasuring apparatus.

In addition, regarding the structure using the main duct 7, if the blindcover 8 of the main duct 7 is removed and the main duct 7 is extended,as indicated by an alternate long and two dashes line in FIG. 1, thenumber of test benches can be increased easily.

In measurement of the emission amount of exhaust gases, the net exhaustgas concentration is calculated by subtracting the impurities in thediluting air from the collected exhaust gases. The diluted exhaust gasamount is measured, and the net exhaust gas concentration and thediluted exhaust gas amount are subjected to calculation to obtain theemission amount of exhaust gases. As a consequence, when purifieddiluting air is used, a highly precise emission amount of exhaust gasescan be obtained.

When the blowing flow rates of the sampling units 11, 11a, . . . for theair purifier 1 are controlled by controlling the capacity (rotationspeed) of the blower fan 4 that substantially stabilizes the pressuredifference ΔP between the atmospheric pressure and the internal pressureof the main duct 7, a necessary diluting air amount in accordance withthe number of operating sampling units 11, 11a, . . . can be obtainedfrom the air purifier 1 with a simple control operation.

If the branch ducts 15, 15a, . . . are controlled by the second valves47, 47a, . . . that are opened and closed when the sampling units 11,11a, . . . are operative and non-operative, respectively, therebyintroducing the diluting air to the operating sampling units 11, 11a, .. . , then the branch ducts 15, 15a, . . . can be reliably opened/closedin accordance with the operative/non-operative states of the samplingunits 11, 11a, . . . with a simple structure.

If a structure that introduces air in the atmosphere to the samplingunits 11, 11a, . . . by using the ducts 44 and the first valves 46, 46a,. . . is employed, exhaust gas measurement directly using air in theatmosphere as the diluting air, which complies with the conventionalexhaust gas regulations, can also be performed.

To collect the diluted exhaust gases, a structure is employed in whichthe diluting air is drawn with the turbo blower 20, the diluting air ismixed with the exhaust gases from the engine, and a portion of thediluted exhaust gases is collected. Therefore, a predetermined volume ofdiluted exhaust gas can be collected with a simple structure.

In addition, if the venturi unit 24 capable of adjusting the dilutingratio of the exhaust gases is provided on the upstream side of the turboblower 20 and the open degree of the second valve 47 is adjusted inaccordance with the present diluting ratio when the sampling units 11,11a, . . . are in operation, the emission amount of exhaust gases can bemeasured for exhaust gases which are diluted with an appropriatediluting ratio.

In the above embodiment, two sampling units 11 and 11a are connected toone air purifier 1. However, the present invention is not limited tothis, and more than two sampling units may be connected to one airpurifier. Also, even if two air purifiers are employed and samplingunits larger in number than the air purifiers, i.e., three or moresampling units, are connected to the two air purifiers through a mainduct, the same effect as that of the embodiment described above can beobtained.

Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to thoseskilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects isnot limited to the specific details, and representative devices shownand described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be madewithout departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventiveconcept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. An exhaust gas measuring apparatus, comprising:anatmosphere introducing unit for taking in air in the atmosphere asdiluting air; an air purifier for taking in and purifying air in theatmosphere, thereby generating diluting air; a diluting unit fordiluting at least a portion of exhaust gases of an engine with thediluting air; selecting means for causing either one of said atmosphereintroducing unit and said air purifier to communicate with said dilutingunit; a sampling unit for collecting diluted exhaust gases; andmeasuring means for obtaining an emission amount of collected gases. 2.An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said air purifier purifiesair by using a catalyst and an adsorbing material.
 3. An apparatusaccording to claim 2, whereinsaid sampling unit includes a first passageportion having one end connected to said selecting means and the otherend open to the atmosphere, a suction unit provided in said firstpassage portion to draw diluting air from said selecting means, a secondpassage portion having one end connected to an exhaust passage of saidengine and the other end connected to said first passage portion, and acollecting unit for collecting a gas mixture obtained by mixing said atleast the portion of the exhaust gases collected from a downstream sideof said second passage portion and the diluting air, said first passageportion on an upstream side of said suction unit is provided with aventuri portion for adjusting a diluting ration of the exhaust gases,and an amount of the diluting air drawn from said selecting means isadjusted, when said sampling unit is in operation, in accordance withthe diluting ration set by said venturi portion.
 4. An apparatusaccording to claim 1, further comprising:a first passage; and a secondpassage, wherein a first end of said first passage is connected to saidatmosphere introducing unit and a second end of said first passage isconnected to said sampling unit, and a first end of said second passageis connected to said air purifier and a second end of said secondpassage is connected to said sampling unit.
 5. An apparatus according toclaim 4, whereinsaid sampling unit includes a first passage portionhaving one end connected to said selecting means and the other end opento the atmosphere, a suction unit provided in said first passage portionto draw diluting air from said selecting means, a second passage portionhaving one end connected to an exhaust passage of said engine and theother end connected to said first passage portion, and a collecting unitfor collecting a gas mixture obtained by mixing said at least theportion of the exhaust gases collected from a downstream side of saidsecond passage portion and the diluting air, said first passage portionon an upstream side of said suction unit is provided with a venturiportion for adjusting a diluting ration of the exhaust gases, and anamount of the diluting air drawn from said selecting means is adjusted,when said sampling unit is in operation, in accordance with the dilutingration set by said venturi portion.
 6. An apparatus according to claim4, wherein said selecting means includes a first valve provided in saidfirst passage and a second valve provided in said second passage, saidselecting means selects diluting air to be introduced to said samplingunit by selectively opening and closing said first and second valves. 7.An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said sampling unit includes afirst passage portion having one end connected to said selecting meansand the other end open to the atmosphere, a suction unit provided insaid first passage portion to draw diluting air from said selectingmeans, a second passage portion having one end connected to an exhaustpassage of said engine and the other end connected to said first passageportion, and a collecting unit for collecting a gas mixture obtained bymixing said at least the portion of the exhaust gases collected from adownstream side of said second passage portion and the diluting air,saidfirst passage portion on an upstream side of said suction unit isprovided with a venturi portion for adjusting a diluting ration of theexhaust gases, and an open degree of said at least one of said first andsecond valves are adjusted, when said sampling unit is in operation, inaccordance with the diluting ration set by said venturi portion.
 8. Anapparatus according to claim 1, wherein said sampling unit includes afirst passage portion having one end connected to said selecting meansand the other end open to the atmosphere, a suction unit provided insaid first passage portion to draw diluting air from said selectingmeans, a second passage portion having one end connected to an exhaustpassage of said engine and the other end connected to said first passageportion, and a collecting unit for collecting a gas mixture obtained bymixing said at least the portion of the exhaust gases collected from adownstream side of said second passage portion and the diluting air,saidfirst passage portion on an upstream side of said suction unit isprovided with a venturi portion for adjusting a diluting ration of theexhaust gases, and an amount of the diluting air drawn from saidselecting means is adjusted, when said sampling unit is in operation, inaccordance with the diluting ration set by said venturi portion.
 9. Anapparatus according to claim 8, wherein said amount of diluting airdrawn from said selecting means is adjusted by a valve disposed in apassage connecting said other end of said second passage portion andsaid atmosphere introducing unit.
 10. An apparatus according to claim 8,wherein said amount of diluting air drawn from said selecting means isadjusted by a valve disposed in a passage connecting said other end ofsaid second passage portion and said air purifier.
 11. An apparatusaccording to claim 1, further comprising:at least one additionaldiluting unit connected to said air purifier; and at least oneadditional selecting means for selectively communicating said at leastone additional diluting unit with said air purifier.
 12. The apparatusaccording to claim 11, wherein said air purifier has air-supplying meansand flow rate controlling means for controlling a flow rate of airsupplied from the air-supplying means in accordance with the number ofthe diluting units connected to said air purifier by said selectingmeans.
 13. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said airpurifier has air-supplying means and flow rate controlling means forcontrolling a flow rate of air supplied from the air-supplying means toa prescribed value based on a difference between an atmospheric pressureand a pressure at the downstream side of said air purifier, saidpressure depending on the number of the diluting units connected to saidair purifier by said selecting means.